Director – R, Zachary Shildwachter (Powerbomb, Deathcember)
Starring – Cameron Box, Emilee Nichols, and Jonathan Box
Release Date – 2023
Rating – 2.5/5
I made a post right before I started my annual October horror binge and several filmmakers reached out to me to include their films into my watchlist. Sadly, I had an overwhelming amount of support on that post and was not able to work all the films sent to me into just one month.
One of the films that I couldn’t get into my October binge is the 2023 horror short Frequencies from director Zach Schildwachter. Zach is very active in the indie horror community and has worked on several well known projects in various capacities so I was a bit excited to finally check it out. I want to thank Zach for sending this one over for review!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a young man and his wife who move into their new home in the city. While unpacking they find a strange box in the closet and come to the conclusion that it’s a spirit box. They decide to try it out and speak with what they think is an evil spirit. However, what they have is something much different and they learn that their home was once owned by a serial killer who used the bodies of his victim for archaic rituals. Now, they have accidentally unleashed something evil in their new home. **Spoiler Alert**
Frequencies is one of those shorts that doesn’t really work as a short. Shorts are a great way to condense a story and cut out a bunch of filler scenes that does nothing for the plot. However, there is times when the story has so much going on that it can’t be a short. Frequencies is one of those shorts. It has a story that just can’t be told in a matter of a few minutes.
The acting in this one is solid for the most part. A few of the scenes does have some stiff performances and awkwardly delivered dialogue but is solid for the most part. I really liked the characters and how the cast brought them to life.
The story for this one is too big to condense down to a short. We have a “spirit box” that might be holding a demonic force which is speculated in the short but never fully confirmed. Sure, something sinister is in the home but was it there before they found the box? Also, why are we casually mentioning the guy that made the box when he should have been the main focus of the film. There is just too much meat left on the bone for this to be a short.
Finally, the film has some solid make-up and visual effects but those of you looking for the red stuff will be very disappointed. Overall, Frequencies just didn’t do it for me. I feel like the story needs the feature length treatment where we see the creation of the box instead of it being a short focusing on the discovery of the box. I wanted to like it but I couldn’t.
